2017 European Short Course Swimming Championships, Day 4

Britain’s Adam Peaty did something he’d never done before: the British superstar won a major short-course title. It came with the European record right away on the penultimate day of the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Copenhagen. Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu completed her mission, winning all six events she competed in as she added two more titles to her tally. The Netherlands brought down one more mixed relay WR, this time in the 4x50m free.

Adam Peaty has been unbeaten for four years, collected all titles on offer in breaststroke, bettered the world records seven times – but it all happened in long-course. Until Day 5 he could clinch silver medals in the 25m pool in the previous years and a bronze in the 50m here in Copenhagen. Now the story had a different ending: Peaty won a magnificent battle against Fabio Scozzoli (ITA) and Kirill Prigoda (RUS) and he did in style as he bettered the European record (55.94).

However, Peaty didn’t keep his historical gold too long. As soon as the victory march concluded he gave it to a young spectator who, with dozens of other kids cheering at the athletes’ exit, was honoured with a life-lasting memory holding the treasure in her hand.

The other 100m breaststroke title, among the women, went to Ruta Meilutyte. After a shorter setback in the previous years, the Lithuanian confirmed her return to the big stage by making the 50m-100m double here.

Katinka Hosszu remained on the big stage – in fact, the Hungarian superhero was in the spotlight again as she managed to match her 6-gold medal haul from Netanya. In 2015 she was 6-0-1, now she finished her campaign in Copenhagen with a perfect 6/6 (let the 400m free go on the last day, where she had claimed bronze two years ago). Hosszu added the 200m IM and 50m back titles to her tally this evening, thus completing the triple in the medley and in the backstroke. In the IM event she came 1-2 with compatriot Evelyn Verraszto, a feat they produced once seven years ago, at the long-course Europeans in Budapest.

France got its first title in this meet, courtesy of Charlotte Bonnet who won a brilliant race in the 200m free. The men’s 50m fly produced one of the closest races in the history of the Europeans as the first four hit the wall within 0.02 seconds. The top finishers were: Aleksandr Popkov (RUS) 22.42, Andriy Govorov (UKR, winner of the last three editions) 22.43, Ben Proud (GBR), tied with Sebastian Sabo (SRB) 22.44…

The Netherlands captured their third relay title in the Royal Arena, after the women’s 4x50m free and the mixed medley they won the mixed free too – again, with a new world record.

Flash Quotes

Women’s 100m breaststroke

Gold

Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania, 1:03.79

“I was really nervous before the final, I was just concentrating on swim fast, fast, fast. It was a quite painful swim towards the and but I’m really happy because I’ve made it.”

Silver

Jenna Laukkanen, Finland, 1:04.25

“I’ve got a lot of racing the it’s more and more getting into my body. It was a good feeling during the race for most of the time but over the last ten metres pain took over. I’m satisfied with my time, it’s a personal best. It’s always great to race against Ruta, it means a tough competition but I enjoy those very much.”

Bronze

Jessica Vall Montero, Spain, 1:04.80

“This is a very good result for me because I’m more of a 200m breaststroke swimmer. A good sign for tomorrow’s 200m race.”

Women’s 200m IM

Gold

Katinka Hosszu, Hungary, 2:04.43

“I’m capable of clocking 2:01 but to be honest it’s a bit difficult hard to swim really well while you lack pressure from the others. On backstroke I was already alone… Still, my target is always to bring the best out of myself – today I’ve managed to achieve what you saw.”

Silver

Evelyn Verraszto, Hungary, 2:08.09

“I was fortunate not to swim beside Katinka as we all knew she would swim a different race and those next to her might be affected by the vision of her moving ahead and perhaps by the waves, too. I was to quit swimming after the World Champs in Budapest this summer but since it didn’t go as planned I decided to carry on. It was worth – though I know this wasn’t the best field, I’m still pretty happy with this medal.”

Bronze

Ilaria Cusinato, Italy, 2:08.19

“This was not expected at all. These two last years were very difficult for me without major results. Eventually I’ve managed to achieve my goals but I’m still not believing it.”

Women’s 200m freestyle

Gold

Charlotte Bonnet, France, 1:52.19

“I’m just too happy! I’ve dreamt of it for a long time. As I improved my basic speed I had good results in the 100m free earlier in these championships and this gave me full confidence for this 200m.

Silver

Femke Heemskerk, Netherlands, 1:53.41

“I wasn’t happy with the time but I am with the silver medal. I knew Charlotte would be very fast, tried to keep up with her but couldn’t catch her. My stroke was OK, long as planned so when I looked at the scoreboard I thought my time was 1:52 but wasn’t really visible at first and then I recognised it was 1:53 and that was a huge disappointment.

Bronze

Veronika Andrusenko, Russia, 1:53.75

“I’m so happy because I won a medal and I’ve just got married so my new name has been graved to this medal. I was a little bit sick beforehand so the result is fine with me but not my time.”

Men’s 100m breaststroke

Gold

Adam Peaty, Great Britain, 55.94 – ER

“Finally I made it. Compared to my previous short-course swims, I think it was the experience I gained which made the difference today. Got used to the Arena too. Anyway, I’m still a long-course swimmer.”

Silver

Fabio Scozzoli, Italy, 56.15

“I didn’t see anything around me. I felt well today but didn’t yesterday during the semis. I felt a bit tired after the 50s and the relays. You know, I’m 29 years old…

Bronze

Kirill Prigoda, Russia, 56.28

“I’m not so happy, I’m not satisfied with my swim. I don’t what happened.”

Men’s 50m butterfly

Gold

Aleksandr Popkov, Russia, 22.42

“I just wanted to be in the top three, no matter what medal I got. Of course, I’m pretty happy with the gold but I definitely wanted a better time, it’s a bit disappointing, to be honest.”

Silver

Andriy Govorov, Ukraine, 22.43

“Why do we have this wall at the 25m? Actually I prefer to swimming long-course. I won this title three times in a row I just missed the fourth by 0.01sec.”

Bronze

Benjamin Proud, Great Britain, 22.44

“I’m really happy and satisfied, despite I qualified to the final first. I’m on the podium now to it’s pretty good as in the 50m anything can happen.”

Sebastian Sabo, Serbia, 22.44

“When we touched the wall at the turn I saw that everybody was together then I started to swim faster and stronger as I knew really everything could happen. When I recognised that I came third it was amazing for me. My goal was to be in the final but to win a bronze it’s simply wonderful.”

Women’s 50m backstroke

Gold

Katinka Hosszu, Hungary, 25.95

“At last a personal best, the first at these European Championships! I’ve managed to put this session together mentally and I’m really proud that I could clock this time after the 200 IM. Not many swimmer are able to go under 26sec, it’s a great feeling that I belong to them.”

Silver

Alicja Tchorz, Poland, 26.09

“I finished 7th in the 100m so this was my last chance to win a medal. I though I could make the podium, so I’m really happy now.”

Bronze

Maaike de Waard, Netherlands, 26.40

“I didn’t expect anything from this race as I knew I would be very close. Now I have a second bronze medal in 50m following the butterfly a few days ago. I like both strokes, there is no preference.”

Mixed 4x50m freestyle relay

Gold

Netherlands (Ranomi Kromowidjojo), 1:28.39 – WR

“Mixed relays have become more and more important that’s why we take very seriously. We were swimming inside the world record so everybody was at full speed.”

Silver

Russia (Vladimir Morozov), 1:28.53

“We wanted to win, maybe next time we can. I’m only happy with the medal, in the relay anything can happen.”

Bronze

Italy (Federica Pellegrini), 1:29.38

“Our tactic was to swim fast which is obvious in 50m, here nothing else matters. I’m really proud of the team so we are satisfied with the third place.”